Division device for centrifugal separators and means for cleaning same.



PATENTED APR. 25 1905.

I D. T. SHARPLBS.

DIVISION DEVICE FOR OENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS AND MEANS FOR CLEANING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED D110, 26, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Gttozmu;

PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

D. T. SHARPLES. DIVISION DEVICE FOR GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS AND MEANS FORCLEANING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.26, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented April .25, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

DAVl l) TOIVN SEN D SHARPLES, OF \VESTC HESTER, PEN N SYLVA NIA.

DIVISION DEVICE FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORS AND MEANS FOR CLEANING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,950, dated April25, 1905.

Application filed December 26, 1902- SerialNo.136,598.

ica, and a resident of lVestchester, in the I I I I 1 county of Ihesterand State of Pennsylvania,

have invented certain new and useful improvements in Division Devicesfor Centrifugal Separators and Means for Cleaning Same, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to centrifugal liquidseparators; and my mainobjects are, first, to provide improved means for facilitating theseparation of the different constituents, and, second, to provide forconveniently and effectively cleansing the same when required.

It is well known that the division of the mass of liquid which is beingsubjected to centrifugal action into layers or strata extending acrossthe radial lines of the vessel greatly facilitates theseparation andgatherering of the constituent parts of the liquid, the movements ofwhich latter are respectively toward and away from the center ofrotation, due to their different atomic weights, and such division ofthe mass of liquid is commonly effected by means of variously formed andarranged division plates or partitions placed within the vessel.However, while such division devices have been effective in facilitatingthe separation of the compound liquid, as stated, their use commonlyinvolves disadvantages and difficulties which at least largely offsetthe benclit desired. portance of absolute cleanliness of all parts ofthe mechanism broughtin contact with the liquid to be operated upon (asmilk) is well understood, and the increased labor naturally incident tothe cleaning of the greatly-increased contacting surface necessarilypresented by such devices is evident. To permit of ready access to allpoints for thorough cleansing, the plates have heretofore been commonlymade separable and grouped in various ways within the vessel during theoperation of the latter. This separable construction, however, not onlynecessitates the considerable labor of separately handling each plateand generally the taking apart and proper rcconstructing of the group,but also involves the likelihood of accidentally damaging or somewhatchanging the form of one or more of the plates, thus greatly increasingthe difliculty, which exists even without such mistreatment, of sogrouping the reconstructed series within the vessel as to not onlyinsure their lirm retention in position therein, but also to maintainthe nice distribution of weight which is essential to the exactbalancing of the rotary mechanism and without which its operation isboth unsatisfactory and dangerous.

The purpose of my invention is to provide for securing the undoubtedbenelit of dividing the mass of rotating liquid as described withoutincurring the diszulvantages and difliculties mentioned as heretoforeincident to such construction.

To this end it consists, essentially, first, in providing anindependently-rigid plate structure forming a single part of themechanism instead of a separable group of plates with liquid'spaccsbetween the plates opening at the periphery and communicating with acommon axial space, and. second, in the combination of said rigid platestructure rotativcly mounted with a liquid-supply mechanism whereby itsthorough cleansing is effected.

The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel features are particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing my improved division devicefor centrifugal vessels rotative'ly mounted in connection with aliquid-supply mechanism for automatically cleansing said device.cross-sectional view of the division device.

My improved division device in the preferred form shown is made up of aseries of similarly-shaped partition-plates (z 11, arranged with theirinner longitudinal edges bequidistaut from the axis 0 of the structureand with the width of the plates extending outward from said axis acrossthe radial lines of the structure and terminating in outwardly-bentlongitudinal edges 1! at a distance from the Fig. 9. is an enlargedplates.

axis 0 corresponding to the radius of the centrifugal vessel to whichthe structure is adapted. These plates are spaced apart equally aroundthe axis 0 to form between them narrow passage-ways e, communicating attheir inner ends with the axial opening f of the structure, extendingacross the radial lines thereof and open at the periphery. Thisarrangement of the plates is maintained independently of the centrifugalmechanism in connection with which it'is adapted to operate by rigidlyuniting them to form a single device or structure of fixed form anddimensions throughout accurately and permanently adapted to its place inthe centrifugal machine as a single element thereof. This rigidconnection of the plates is effected, as shown, by securing each plateat different points in its width and length to adjacentvariouslyoverlapping plates, so that each plate shall be directly orindirectly secured to every other plate of the group forming thecomplete structure. In practice I have found this to be effectivelyaccomplished by means of intersecting screws g g, arranged approximatelyradially in circular series, as indicated in Fig. 2, throughout thelength of the structure, each screw being engaged in alinedscrew-threaded openings extending through a series of overlapping platesand serving as a spacing and connecting pin or bar for said Thispreferred connection may be effected satisfactorily, as 1 haveascertained in practice, by first building up the structure upon amandrel, with the plates properly spaced by strips of fusible metal (aslead) and clamped by suitable bands and then tapping the alined openingsand inserting the screws, the spacing-strips being subsequently readilyremoved by subjecting the completed structure to sufiicient heat to meltthe same.

The improved structure described provides a one-piece division device ofpermanent form adapted to divide the mass of liquid as desired intostrata of uniform thickness in practically unobstructed passage-ways. Inorder, however, that the device may be of practical value, it isnecessary that it be thoroughly and frequently cleansed, and theprovision for accomplishing this forms an essential part of myinvention.

During the operation of the centrifugal machine oppositely-movingcurrents of slow velocity are maintained in each passage-way e, thecream moving inward to the axial space and the skim-milk outward to thewall of the inclosing vessel.

passage-ways, I provide for producing a forced and rapid circulation ofcleansing liquid therethrough by rotativelymounting the division devicesin connection with an axial cleansing-liquid-supply tube located in theIn order to cleanse these l axial space f. 1n Fig. 1 this arrangement ofmechanism is indicated. The division devices and the machine-frame 71shown are adapted for the tubular form of separator vessel.

The division device is removed from the latterand separately attached tothe rotary spindle i, the end of the latter screwing into the end of thedivision device, thus suspending the latter therefrom. Entering theaxial space f from below is the cleansing-liquidsupply tube It, fixed tothe frame at its base m and communicating with an elevated reservoir nor pressure system, whereby the liquid is discharged in said axial spaceso as to contact with the inner edges 6 of the rotating division deviceand be rapidly forced through the passage-ways e, escaping freely at theperiphery into the open-bottom casing 9. After being subjected for ashort time to this automatic cleansing action the device may be removed,reinserted in the centrifugal vessel, and the separating operation berenewed without involving any tedious labor in cleansing orreconstruction or any uncertainty as to the correctness of the latterand the safety and satisfactoriness of the succeeding operation.

What I claim is 1. A division device for centrifugal liquidseparatorscomprising a series of divisionplates extending across the radial linesof the device and connecting-bars engaging and holding each separateintersecting plate independently of other intersecting plates.

I 2. A division device for centrifugal liquidseparators comprising aseries of divisionplates extending across the radial lines of the deviceand connecting bars engaging each separate intersecting plate to supportthe same in positively-spaced position thereon independently of otherintersecting plates.

3. A division device for centrifugal liquidseparators comprising aseries of divisionplates extending across the radial lines of the deviceand screw-threaded connecting-bars engaging each separate intersectingplate to support the same in positively-spaced position thereonindependently of other intersecting plates.

4. The combination with a division device for centrifugalliquid-separators composed of a circular series of longitudinaldivision-plates united to form an independently-rigid structure, saidplates being arranged across the radial lines and forming an axialopening with spaces between the plates communicating with said axialspace, of a spindle for said division device, and a fluid-supply conduitextending into said axial space.

5. A division device for centrifugal liquidseparators comprisingcylindrically-grouped approximately parallel division-plates extendingacross the radial lines of the device and in- Signed at W'estchester,Pennsylvania, this tersecting spacing-bars each engaging alined 3d dayof December, 1902. openings in a series of overlying plates to form arigid structure, and having their outer 5 ends extending as far as theouter edges of Witnesses:

the plates to contact with the Wall of the sepa- MARY E. RUPERT,rater-bowl. I. NEWTON GROFF.

DAVID TOWNSEND SHARPLES.

